Tranquility in Tripoli

Tranquility is not the first word that comes to mind when one thinks of Tripoli - thanks to the constant sound of cars horning, tradesmen advertising and speakers blaring - but it is there to be found and savoured for those who seek it.

Most tranquil is the view of the sun setting from the Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles and the waves gently lapping against the shore in El-Mina. It affords one the space to imagine the old Tripoli, which was the centre of cultural and economic life in Lebanon, and ponder on the ultimately transient nature of the city.

Tripoli, October 2018

The Archaeological Apogee of Baalbek

Surrounded by the fertile plains of the Beqaa Valley, the ruins of Baalbek are a testament to the ancient civilisation of Lebanon and its archaeological and architectural wonders. The greatest temples are dedicated to a triad of deities - Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus - and archaeologists, historians and scientists alike remain perplexed as to how structures of such magnitude were carved, transported and assembled so many thousands of years ago.

From the Phoenicians and the Greeks to the apogee of architecture of Imperial Rome and the fortressing of the Ottoman Empire, the ruins span millennia and tell the story of conquest and rebellion. During this time, they were the centre of worship for a host of religions and welcomed a deluge of pilgrims.

The ornate beauty of some of the structures belies their age and stature - both physically historically. Today, Baalbek is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is one of Lebanon’s most prized possessions.

Baalbek, September 2018

Amazing Apulia

From the baroque grandeur of Lecce and whitewashed wonder of Ostuni to the picturesque Otranto and serene view onto the azure Adriatic, Apulia is a truly beautiful region.

The plate in the last photo was a humbling gift given to me and my dear friend Ahmed by a lovely Moroccan guy we befriended at a cafe near where we were staying. The kindness of strangers (and boundless connection of Arabs) is a special charm.

Apulia, August 2018

The Example of Children

Four years of conflict continue to take their toll on Yemen, where the scale of crisis is now unimaginable. It leaves us all with such heavy hearts.

Occasionally, those heavy hearts are lifted and given temporary reprieve. When listeners responded to our all-day radio appeal for SABA Relief with an incredible £36,250 of donations, that was one such reprieve. That kindness will feed 2,400 people for one month, and sponsor 90 orphans for one year.

Most inspirationally, young children came into the studio to donate their pocket money and share their stories and recitations. What an example they set for us to follow ❤️

We spend all our lives looking forward to adulthood; but I wonder if sometimes the world would be a vastly better place if we looked instead towards childhood for our example.

Birmingham, 10 June 2018

Human Love

Love is the strength to open up your heart to those who you do not know;

The capacity to empathise with those who you may not recognise yourself in;

The humility to know that the afflictions of others could so easily be your own.

Calais, 14 February 2018

Mountainous Meditation

Escaping the madness of the metropolis to begin 2018 in a small village near the Pyrenees was a revitalising experience. Remarkably, the chance to walk, to think, to read - undisturbed - created the kind of meditative space that life under capitalism often denies us.

It recalls the peerless Wordsworth on the Sublime:

'A meditation rose on me that nightUpon the lonely mountain when the sceneHad passed away, and it appeared to meThe perfect image of a mighty mind.'

Lège, 11 January 2018

The Height of Human Civilisation

Surveying the sprawling city of Athens is a serene yet stunning experience. A breathtaking peak through time back to one of the heights of human civilisation.

Athens, 26 November 2017

The Loneliness of Dusk

Vivid colours through the horizon in Paris, where the Eiffel Tour majestically, metaphorically and melancholically captures Ed Gorman’s ‘loneliness of dusk’.

Paris, 28 August 2017

Giudecca’s Window

The view from the Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel, formerly a flourishing flour mill transformed into a modern Venetian masterpiece.

Venice, 13 August 2017

Altar of the Chiesa di San Matteo

Lecce is famed for the splendour of its Baroque masterpieces. From circa C17th, the historic town began to make use of its rich reserve of a particularly malleable form of limestone that lent itself well to sculpting. Alongside the well-known Cathedral, the Basilica di Santa Croce, the Roman amphitheatre, and statue of Saint Oronzo, I stumbled upon the Chiesa di San Matteo, hidden in a narrow alleyway in the historical centre. It’s a fascinating structure, with a concave above and convex at the bottom. Inside, it has perhaps the most beautiful altar I have ever seen (pictured), replete with ornate statues of apostles and angels, elegant paintings and twisty columns.

Lecce, 30 August 2016

A Lightning View

At the end of a week of intense heat and humidity, one could be forgiven for expecting a bright and blistering weekend. Not so. The sky was largely dark and illuminated only be repeated lightning strikes. I managed to capture one such strike just before it retreated.